Valve-plug unit for drain assemblies



Aug 25, 1953 J. w. MGG-ARRY VALVE-PLUG UNIT FOR DRAIN ASSEMBLIES FiledMarch 2, 1950 Y .R S r n W cwf WM @A w S W A J/ ll rl Qu 3 .1 7 a 2 2 mm 3 [.3

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 VALVE-PLUG UNIT r01: DRAIN ASSEMBLIES James W.McGarry, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Chase Brass & Copper 00.Incorporated,

Waterbury, Conn.

Application March 2, 1950, Serial No. 147,191

3 Claims.

This inventionrelates to drain-fittings for lavatories, sinks,washstands, and the like, and more particularly to an improvedvalve-plug unit of the mechanically-operated type.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedvalve-plug unit and coacting drain-head of novel design andconstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedmechanically-operable valve-plug unit with a view to effecting asubstantial saving in cost of manufacture, while assuring a strong,rigid and simplified construction.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of amechanically-operable valve-plug unit for drain-fittings, ofcomparatively simple and inexpensive construction, and adapted toprovide self-guiding means within its drain-head while affording anunusually rugged wear-resistant construction, and a design assuringsmooth efiicient operation in use.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

- In accordance with the present invention, the drain-head is of openconstruction in that there are no means in the interior for guiding thestem of the valve-plug unit, this function being provided for byarranging on the stem of the unit a novel self-guiding member thatcoacts with the drain-head to assure the correct alignment and smoothreciprocation of the unit in the drainhead.

Since these devices are manufactured on an extensive scale, it isimportant that the cost of their manufacture be reduced so far aspracticable and consistent with an efficient design and construction.This is achieved by the present novel method of construction thataffords an unusually strong and eflicient operating-structure, easilyremoved from the drain-head when required, and that particularly lendsitself to quantity production.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a central-longitudinal sectional view of one form which adrain-fitting may assume in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view mainly in side elevation and partly in section of thevalve-plug unit, detached;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but viewing the valve-plug unit froma direction at a right angle to the direction in which it is viewed inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve head 2 and valve-stem unitdetached from the guidetube; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the guide-tube of the valve-plug unit,detached.

In the drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is depicted,the numeral [0 designates an operating-lever connected to a liftrod (notshown) and rockably supported by an associated ball-and-socket unit,generally designated at l l, secured to an offset-section of pipe I2projecting exteriorly from a waste pipe l3. The inner end of theoperating-lever I0 is protruded a predetermined distance into the wastepipe, for a purpose which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The waste pipe l3 has a flange l4 interiorly threaded as at l5 andaccommodating the lower externally-threaded body-portion IB of anopentype or guideless drain-head designated generally at l1. A gasket H3at the bottom of the flange I4 affords a liquid-tight seal between thedrainhead and the waste pipe.

The drain-head I! has a tubular body-portion provided at its upper endwith an outwardlyprojecting integral annular flange l9 that is adaptedto engage on its under surface an adjacent portion of a drain assembly,such as a lavatory bowl (not shown). The inner surface of thebody-portion of the drain-head adjacent its junction with the flange I9,is flared and conically configured, as at l9a, to provide a sealing seatfor the plug-head of the valve-plug unit, designated generally at 20 anddescribed more fully in ensuing paragraphs. The bottom edge cligbthedrain-head I1 is flanged inwardly, as at The upper body-portion of thedrain-head I! further includes a pair of diametrically-opposedoverflow-receiving arcuate cutout-portions or openings as at 2|. A clampnut 22 secures the Idrailn-head operatively to the aforesaid lavatory Inaccordance with the present invention, the valve-plug unit 20 comprisesa plug-head 23 mentioned above and having a conical lateral peripheryadapted to engage the similarly conically-configured seat-portion I; ofthe flange l9, when the said plug-head is lowered to close thepassageway of the drain-head. The under surface of the plug-head 23 hassecured thereto in any suitable manner a rigid depending-stem 24 havingits bottom edge centrally slotted as at 25, the said slot beingpositioned in a plane registering with the longitudinal axis of thestem.

In further conformity with and as an important feature of the presentinvention, a guidemember, generally designated at 26, is fastened to thelower end of the stem 24 and within the slot 25. The guide-member 26 hasa lower tubular body-portion 2! of relatively-reduced diamemovements,canting and, therefore, possible bind= ing in the said drain-head issubstantially eliminated. The device also is particularly adapted Theenlarged portion 29 is slotted or cut, as at i 30, adjacent its junctionwith'the flange 28' subfor quantity production, since it merely involvesL the provision of a valve-plug with its stem slotted, and then applyingthe latter to a reach on a preformed tube-section, as indicated above.

stantially to the depth of a radiusor semicircle,

and now provides an upper section that is pres sure-formed, as bydie-punching, to afiord a reentrant and somewhat U-shaped integralconvolution 3 I The convolution 31 has a comparatively straight orrectilinear reach 32 in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axisof the stem 24 and, consequently, with that of the guide-member 26. Thereach 32 is designed and adapted for reception in the slot 25 of thestem 24, and is fastened therein in any suitable manner as by soldering,brazing, etc.

The bottom edge of the lower body-portion 2'! has an inwardly-directedannular flange as at 33, which is engageable by the adjacent end'portionof the operating-lever l (Fig. l) in the waste pipe l3, so that when thesaid operating-lever is rocked, the valve-plug unit 28 will be raised orlowered and the plug-head 23 will similarly move with respect to itsconical seat 59a in the drainhead H, as described more fullyhereinafter.

With the operatin -lever in its drain-closing position, the valve-plugunit 2!}, when introduced into the drain-head H, will descend until theunder surface of the plug-head 23 engages the conical seat 19a, therebysealing the top of the passageway in the drain-head. The enlargeddiameter portion 29 of the guide-member 25, it will be understood, is infree sliding contact with the inner periphery of the drain-head i'i,while the relatively-reduced or lower body-portion 2? is slidablethrough the inwardly-directed annular flange I912, mentioned above, onthe lower end of the drain-head.

When the valve-plug unit 26 is in position to close the passageway ofthe drain-head, the stopper or plug-head 23 is seated on the conicalseat 5911 and the flange 33 on the bottom edge of the body-portion 2'!is in position to be engaged by the inner protruded end of theoperating-lever iii. If the outer end of the operating-lever I0 is nowrocked downwardly, it will be understood that the inner end thereof willrise and engage the flange 33 of the body-portion 2? and consequentlyelevate the engaged stopper or plug-head 23 off the conical seat I9a,thereby opening the passageway of the drain-head and permitting thecontents of the lavatory bowl to drain. When the operating-lever ismoved to lower the inner end thereof, the valve-plug unit descends bygravity with the lower end thereof, engaging the operating-lever H]until the plug-head 23 seats on the conical seat [9a. Continued downwardmovement of the inner end of the operating-lever will disengage thelatter from the valve-plugji nit ensuring the seating of the plug-headon the'lseat 19a.

The construction of the valve-plug unit, it will be noted, is at oncesimple and rugged. The tubular body-portion and the integral reachthereon, in its central position, permits a quick, yet accurate locatingof the valve-stem so that correct seating of the plug-head unit on thedrainhead is assured.

The unit itself, by virtue of its design and construction, is smoothlyand easily guided in the drain-head so that during its lifting andlowering The invention may be carried out in other specific ways thanthose herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a drain-assembly; a substantially tubular drain-head having aninwardly turned annular flange at the lower end thereof, said flangeforming an opening of smaller diameter than the diameter of saiddrain-head; a plug-head adapted to engage with the upper end of saiddrain-head; a stem element secured at one end to said plughead; and atubular guide member secured to the other end of said stem element, saidguide member comprising an upper portion having a sliding flt with saiddrain-head and a lower portion of reduced diameter having a sliding fitwith the opening formed by said flange.

2. A drain-assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stem element isformed with slot means in its guide member engaging end, and the upperportion oi said guide member is formed with a diametral reach secured insaid slot means.

3, In a drain assembly; a substantially tubular drain-head having aninwardly directed annular flange at the lower end thereof, said flangeforming an opening of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of thebody of said drainhead; a waste pipe secured to said drain-head andhaving an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of theopening formed by said flange; a plug operating element extending intosaid waste pipe; a plug-head adapted to operably engage with the upperend of said drain-head; a cylindrical stem secured at its upper end tosaid plug-head, said stem having a slot formed in its lower end; and atubular guide member positioned in said drain-head and comprising anupper portion having a sliding fit in the body of said drain-head and alower portion of reduced diameter having a sliding fit in the openingformed by said flange and in said waste pipe, said upper portion havingan integral diametral reach secured insaid slot, and said lower portionbeing formed at its lower end with aninwardly turned annular flange forengagemerit said plug operating element.

- JAMES W. MCGARRY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

